By the Croftcf Chràft. 213 Benefit 7. A Nother Benefit that followeth upon the for. 1.1. mer is this : we f .sll befar better able to fuller for Chrift, becaufe that fufferings will be mach snore eafle to ua , when once weare trulyCrucified to the world. What is it that makes chin fo tender of fuffering , and flank at the noife of it, and thereforeconform chemfelves to the times they live in , and venture their fouls to fave their flefh ? but only their over- valu- ing flefhly things, and not knowing the worth and weight of things everlafting. They have no foul within them but what is become carnal, by a bale fubje&ion to the flefh ; and therefore they favour nothing but the things of the flefh. All Life deireth a (bitable food for its fuflentation. A Carnal Life within hath a Carnal appetite, and is molt fenlble of themils of Carnal com- modities : But a Spiritual Lifebath a Spiritual appetite : And as Carnal minds can eafily let go Spiritual things ; fo a fpiritual mind,fo far as it is fuch, can eafily let go carnal things, when God requireth it. When you are Dead to the world , you will eafily part with it. For all things belowwill feembut (mall matters to you, in comparifonof the things which they areput in competi- tion with. Tf you are (corned , or accounted the off-fcouringof the Town, you can bear it ; becaufe with you it is a very fmall matter to be judged of man, a Cor. 4. 3. If you mull endure abufes or perfecutions for Chrift you can do it : becaufe you reckon that the fufferings of this life are not worthy to be com- pared with the glory that (hall be revealed, Rom. 8. 28. You can let go your gain, and account it lots for Chrift ; yea andaccount all things lofts for the knowledgeof him ; and fuffer the lofs of all things for him , accounting them but as dung, that you may win him, Phil 3.7, 8. Ifyou knew that bonds and afjlic7ionr did abideyou, yet none of theft things wouldmoveyou, neither wouldyore accountyour life itfelÎ dear toy, fo thatyou may finiJhyonr courfe' with joy, Atis 20. 23, 24. So far as you are dead to the world , andalive to God, it will be thus withyou. When they that are alive to the world are fo far from beingable to dye for God, that every crofs Both feem a death to them. I have many a time heard fuch lamentable complaints from people that are fain into po- crcy, or dif;race , or forne other worldly fùffering , that hath B e 3 giveaa
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